. >>> meanwhile, mitt romney's performance in last week's debate has given him a big bounce right past the president in one new national poll. a research survey out this afternoon gives the republican nominee a 4 point edge among likely voters. president obama had an 8 point lead in that same poll three weeks ago. romney gained ground in a couple key demographics. the pew poll shows he pulled even with the president among women voters. erasing an 18 point obama lead going into the debate. and the republican nominee is also doing better with younger voters. his popularity with the under 30 crowd jumped 10 percentage points in the days following the debate. romney is capitalizing on his post debate bounce, turning the tables on president's attacks on his foreign policy knowledge. the republican nominee told an audience at the virginia military institute that the president's leadership has been especially lacking in the middle east. >> it's clear that the risk of conflict in the region is higher now than when the president took office. it's time to change course in the middle east. that c